Pair of shorts

ABSTRACT

A pair of shorts, particularly for cycling, which comprises a protective padding that has a teardrop-shaped structure so as to define a front part that can be arranged at the region overlying the groin, a central part that can be arranged at the perineum or crotch and a rear part that can be arranged at part of the buttocks; the padding is connected to the pair of shorts exclusively by way of a first and a second pair of bar tack stitches, which are arranged transversely to the perimetric edge of the front and rear parts along a direction that passes substantially through the region of the crotch, and by way of gluing of the perimetric edges of the front and rear parts which connect the first and second pair of bar tack stitches.

The present invention relates to a pair of shorts, particularly forcycling.

In the practice of cycling it is known to use pairs of shorts, made ofpartially elasticized material, which have a considerable snugness offit with the body and are usually worn without underwear.

The use of such pairs of shorts creates problems for the athlete,however: during races or training the perineum, which is the part of thebody that remains continuously in contact with the saddle, is subjectedto all the stresses owing to the bumps and holes in the terrain and thevibrations transmitted by the bicycle frame.

Such continual stresses to the perineum result in the onset of localizedinflammation that can deteriorate into cuts or blisters that makepracticing the sport difficult, if not impossible.

As a partial solution to such drawbacks, pairs of shorts are known whichare constituted by a fabric to which a cloth of adequate and uniformthickness is sewn, at the region of the perineum.

Such solution also suffers drawbacks, however, in that even if thethickness of the cloth may initially give relief, it has been found thatit creates a friction that leads to an overheating of the perineum aswell as heavy sweating, which in turn creates further conditions ofdiscomfort.

As a partial solution to such drawbacks, the provision is also known ofpairs of shorts which are composed of a base support sewn perimetricallyto the pair of shorts and which is associated, at the region of theperineum, with a layer of contoured material so as to define severalmutually separate areas, which protrude from the support and arearranged laterally with respect to a longitudinal axis of the saddle;such areas which protrude create zones, uniform in thickness but indifferent positions, for resting the perineum.

Although partially solving the above mentioned drawbacks, in such knownart the presence of the perimetric stitching of the support for the pairof shorts, which in any case has a certain thickness, owing also to thefact that the stitching is executed with thread, determines a furtherlocalized area of friction.

The use of the pair of shorts for a long time thus results in theformation of inflammation and even cuts on the skin in the region of theperineum at the stitching that connects to the support.

The aim of the present application is thus to eliminate the drawbacks inthe cited known art and thus devise a pair of shorts that, during use,enables the user to achieve an optimal level of comfort at the perineumand a high level of freedom of movement while preventing the formationof inflammation or cuts on the skin.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a pair ofshorts that makes it possible to achieve optimal level of comfort forthe user even following a prolonged use thereof.

Another object is to provide a pair of shorts that in addition to theforegoing characteristics also adds that of being low cost andstructurally simple, while being reliable and safe in use.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparenthereinafter are achieved by a pair of shorts, particularly for cycling,which comprises a protective padding that has a substantiallyteardrop-shaped structure so as to define a front part that can bearranged at the region overlying the groin, a central part that can bearranged at the perineum or crotch and a rear part that can be arrangedat part of the buttocks, characterized in that said padding is connectedto said pair of shorts exclusively by way of a first and a second pairof bar tack stitches, which are arranged transversely to the perimetricedge of said front and rear parts substantially along a direction thatpasses substantially through the region of the crotch, and by way ofgluing of the perimetric edges of said front and rear parts whichconnect said first and second pair of bar tack stitches.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention willbecome better apparent from the detailed description of a particular,but not exclusive, embodiment thereof, illustrated by way ofnon-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a padding of the pair of shorts accordingto the invention which is arranged flat on a part of the pair of shorts;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the padding of the pair of shorts according tothe invention, being worn;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the padding of the pair of shortsaccording to the invention, being worn;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the padding of the pair of shortsaccording to the invention, in which the central part is raised withrespect to the pair of shorts in order to highlight the mutualconnection;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the padding of the pair of shorts according tothe invention, in which the central part is raised with respect to thepair of shorts in order to highlight the mutual connection.

In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown inrelation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other,different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generallydesignates a pair of shorts, particularly for cycling, which comprises aprotective padding 2 that has a substantially teardrop-shaped structureso as to define a front part 3 that can be arranged at the region 4overlying the groin, a central part 5 that can be arranged at theperineum or crotch 6 and a rear part 7 that can be arranged at part ofthe buttocks 8.

The padding 2 is connected to the pair of shorts 1 exclusively by way ofa first pair of bar tack stitches 9 a, 9 b and a second pair of bar tackstitches 10 a, 10 b, which are arranged transversely respectively to theperimetric edge 11 of the front part 3 and to the perimetric edge 12 ofthe rear part 7 .

Each one of the first pair of bar tack stitches 9 a, 9 b and second pairof bar tack stitches 10 a, 10 b lies substantially along a direction 13that passes substantially through the region of the crotch 6, asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The connection of the padding 2 to the pair of shorts 1 occursfurthermore by way of gluing of only the perimetric edges 11, 12 of thefront part 3 and rear part 7 which connect the first and second pair ofbar tack stitches 9 a, 9 b, 10 a, 10 b.

In this manner the padding 2 is free from, i.e. is not connected in anyway, even with stitching, to the pair of shorts for the entire region ofthe central part 5, which is thus free to adapt to the movementsimpressed during the thrusts on the pedals by the user.

Thus it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intendedaim and objects, a pair of shorts having been obtained which has nostitching in the central region which makes it possible to prevent theformation of inflammation or cuts on the skin during the practice of thesport, especially when extended over a long period.

Furthermore thanks to the presence of the first and of the second pairof bar tack stitches 9 a, 9 b, 10 a, 10 b and of the gluing of only theperimetric edges 11, 12 of the front part 3 and rear part 7 in theregion that connects the first and second pairs of bar tack stitches 9a, 9 b, 10 a, 10 b makes it possible to maintain the padding in place inany case with respect to the pair of shorts.

Obviously the materials used as well as the dimensions of the individualcomponents of the invention may be more relevant according to specificrequirements.

The characteristics indicated above as advantageous, convenient or thelike, may also be missing or be substituted by equivalentcharacteristics.

The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. MI2014U000388from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pair of shorts, particularly for cycling, which comprises a protective padding that has a substantially teardrop-shaped structure so as to define a front part that can be arranged at the region overlying the groin, a central part that can be arranged at a perineum or crotch and a rear part that can be arranged at part of the buttocks, wherein said padding is connected to said pair of shorts exclusively by way of a first and a second pair of bar tack stitches, which are arranged transversely to a perimetric edge of said front and rear parts substantially along a direction that passes substantially through a region of a crotch, and by way of gluing of the perimetric edges of said front and rear parts which connect said first and second pair of bar tack stitches.
 2. The pair of shorts according to claim 1, wherein said first pair of bar tack stitches and second pair of bar tack stitches are arranged transversely respectively to the perimetric edge of said front part and to the perimetric edge of said rear part.
 3. The pair of shorts according to claim 1, wherein each one of said first pair of bar tack stitches and second pair of bar tack stitches lies substantially along a direction that passes substantially through the region of the crotch.
 4. The pair of shorts according to claim 1, wherein the connection of said padding to said pair of shorts occurs furthermore by way of gluing of only the perimetric edges of said front part and rear part which connect said first and second pair of bar tack stitches.
 5. The pair of shorts according to claim 1, wherein said padding is free from, i.e. is not connected in any way to, said pair of shorts, for the entire region of said central part. 